Held Jan. 26-29 at the Belcher Center at LeTourneau Unversity in Longview, Rise was a Christian event which included sessions where participants read the Bible, learned more about God to draw closer to God. One of the main focuses of the event was the fantastic concert Friday.

I enjoyed every sermon and loved the band and singers that performed. It was an absolutely awesome event that anyone could attend, whether a person believed in God or not. The music was so powerful, you could feel the bass from the back row, thanks to how well Guavi, Trip Lee, and The Stone Myer Band performed. The theme song for the whole event was “Your Love Cast Out All My Fear” by Phil King, which was played before and after each night’s program. When I heard it, I could feel my fears, pain, and suffering wash away and be replaced by joy.

The Bible Study for 2018 concentrated on “being present” with God by being present in your home, your church, and your community.

Passage Institute, Roots, and many other Christian organizations were present and had booths up front raising money for their causes. Over 1,500 people attended this year and the place went absolutely crazy and wild with joy and praise. All in all, I had a wonderful time. If you go to a church that happens to go to The Rise each year, I think you should save up to go with them next year. This was my first year to go, and I will most definitely go next year.